Improved amalgamator



UNITED STATES PATENT` Ormea..

IMPROVED AMALGAMATOR.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 49,232, dated August 8, 1865.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THoMAs J. CHUBB, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Amalgamator; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof', reference being had to the accom.- panying drawings, making a partof this specification, in which- Figure lis a side sectional view ofthe amalgamator, showing the interior construction of the same. Fig. 2 is an elevation of one end of the machine, having a portion of thc head broken away. Fig. 3 is a diametrical section through one of the partitions and one of the copper disks. Fig. 4 is a front view of one of the partitions. Fig. 5 is a face or front view of one of the copper disks.

Similar letters of reference indicate correj spondin g parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to an improved mode of exposing amalgamated plates to a stream of water and pulverized ore, or sands containing precious metals, for the purpose of separating such metals from their gangne, as will be hereinafter described.

To enable others skilled in the art to understand myinvention, I will describe its construction and operation. i

In the accompanying drawings, A represents a cylinder, within which the process of amalgamation is conducted. 1t consists of two semicylindrical sections bolted tightly together, and closed at its ends by means of heads A A', which are provided with stung-boxes a a, through which a shaft, B, passes. This cylinder may be constructed of wood or metal, and it should be sufficiently tight at the joints to contain mercury. The central shaft, B, has a number of copper disks, C C, secured to it, and arranged at suitable intervals apart. These disks are prevented from moving in a direction with the length oftheir shaft by means ot' interposed collars or washers b b, and these disks are somewhat smaller in diameter than the interior diameter ofthe cylinders within which they are arranged.

Between the disks C C G are partitions D, having central openings, c c, through them, as shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 4.. These partitions tit snugly within their cylinder, and are so arranged that they leave spaces on eachside and at the circumference of each one of the copper disks, which spaces, together with the openings through the partitions D D, form acommunication for the passage of the auriferous sand through the machine.

If desirable, the partitions D D may be spaced by formin g flanges e e ou their sides, at or near their circumference, as shown in Fig. 1, so as to inclose thc copper disks C G.

At the lowest point ofthe cylinderA achaunel, g, is formed for the escape from each one of the chambers between the partitions of the amalgam, which may be drawn off by means of the pipe H. This pipe should be provided with a stop-cock, which is closed during the amalgamating process.

The pulvcrized ore, or sand containing pre` cious metal, is introduced into the cylinder through the opening F, and, after passing through the several chambers, the gaugue is allowed to escape from the opening G.

The operation of my machine is as follows: A suitable quantity of lnercury is introduced into the cylinder A and the shaft B revolvedV by means of belts or gearing communicating with an engine. This causes the surfaces of the copper plates to becomethoroughly coated with mercury. The iinely-pulverized ore mixed with water is forced through the cylinder, and in its passage the ore is brought into close contact with both surfaces of each one of the revolving plates C G, which carry the fine atoms of the metal beneath the mercury bath and leave them there, while the sand ormineral dust is carried oft' by the current of water.

The passage ot' the ore and water through my machine may be facilitated by pressure and bym akin g the spaces between the copper plates C C sufficiently large to prevent the ore from clogging. The spaces between the copper plates should be made so narrow that the ore will be compelled to flow through them in a thin sheet, so that every atom of the precious metal will be taken up by the coating of mercury on the s urfaces of said plates and carried beneath4 the mercury-bath. As the surfaces of the" plates revolve in a bathof mercury they will be continually washed therein, and bright surfaces of mercury will be presented to the stream of ore as long as the operation is continued.

By my invention it will be seen that the stream of ore and Water passes alternately toward and from the center of the cylinder through chambers which are so narrow that the particles ot' ore are all caused to impinge upon the surfaces ot the plates G. By this means I expose the ore to a very large surface of mercury in a very compact space.

If desirable, steam may be forced into the cylinder A through pipe F during the amalgamating process, for the purpose of keeping the mercury Warm and assisting in bringing the atoms of ore in contact with the mercurialized surfaces of the revolving disks.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, s

1. subjecting the ores ot' precious metals in a disintegrated state to the action of revolving orA oscillating plates which are coated with mercury, when such plates are arranged Withvin chambers that are formed in such manner that the ore is subjected to both sides of the plates and caused to 110W over a bath of mercury in a continuous stream, substantially as described.

2. rEhe arrangement of the fixed partitions D on each side of the movable disks C in such manner as to form a continuo us passage through the cylinder Afor the flow of the ore, substantially as described.

3. The use of steam, in combination with a series of disks, C, moving in a bath of mercury, for the purpose of bringing the atoms of ore in closer contact with the surfaces of said disks, substantially as described.

4. Subjecting the ores of precious metals in a disintegrated state to the action ot' revolving or oscillating plates which are coated With mercury, when such plates are arranged in such manner that the ore is subjected to both sides thereof and caused to dow past or over the same and over a mercury bath, the plates dipping into said bath for the purpose of removing the precious metals collected thereon and depositing them in the bath, the plates themselves becomingcleaned andfreshly coated with mercury ot' the bath thereby, substantially as described.

Witness my hand in the matter ot' my applicationfor a patent for an improved amalgamator.

THOS. J. OHUBB.

Witnesses:

HENRY A. MOORE, WALTER PARKER. 

